When You Can't Trust God

We are human and see through human eyes. And sometimes we will feel like God led us astray. That He led us down a wrong alley full of danger and pain. Our trust gets rattled. We struggle to discern His leading in our lives and we struggle to trust Him, period.

But in all that distrust, keep talking to God anyway. You will find out He is gently holding you, even when you are kicking to get away. He knows under the anger is tears and that we push away to try to get away from the pain that is locked inside us.

What should we do when we are struggling to trust God?

• Turn to people you know God has used to guide you in your past. Trusted counselors like your pastor, parents, and prayer partners. Look to them in discerning issues and God's direction until you grow strong again. 
• Go back to the last thing you are certain God said to you.
• Don't do anything rash. Don't make any big decisions. You don't want regrets.
• Guard your tongue, especially as a parent. It is okay to honestly tell your kids you are struggling to discern God right now. But don't dump your emotions on them that you feel like you can't trust God anymore. God IS trustworthy; we are the ones that struggle to follow or struggle to understand.
• Read through Psalms. Scan it for the verses with the base word "trust" in them. Mark them. Read them. Reread them. Read them outloud. They might be hard to believe. Ask God to help you believe. 
• Get alone with God. We live in a society that doesn't take time for solitude. Get off the phone. Turn off the tv and music. Just be still. And share it all with God. Pour out your heart. And then listen. There is so much the Lord wants to share if we would just stop all the busy and take time for Him. 
• Remind yourself of what you DO believe. That God is real. That Jesus raised from the grave. That He forgives sin. List what you believe. Say them. Build up in your heart again what you know to be true, then ask God to help your unbelief. 
• Keep your eyes and heart open. The Lord will baby step you back into trusting Him. One little decision after another, He will show you that you were listening to the Holy Spirit. Be patient. He has much to teach you and infinite ways to have you grow in your knowledge of Him.